CHM - Chemistry

These workshops are based on the Peer-Led Team Learning model (PLTL) with students working individually and in small groups to learn and exercise problem solving techniques. The problems presented in these workshops are often not amenable to solution through ready-made formulas and require the individual to interact with peers in a reflective manner. The workshop is 85 minutes each week.

These workshops are based on the Peer-Led Team Learning model (PLTL) with students working individually and in small groups to learn and exercise problem solving techniques. The problems presented in these workshops are often not amenable to solution through ready-made formulas and require the individual to interact with peers in a reflective manner. The workshop is 85 minutes each week.

These workshops are based on the Peer-Led Team Learning model (PLTL) with students working individually and in small groups to learn and exercise problem solving techniques. The problems presented in these workshops are often not amenable to solution through ready-made formulas and require the individual to interact with peers in a reflective manner. The workshop is 85 minutes each week.

These workshops are based on the Peer-Led Team Learning model (PLTL) with students working individually and in small groups to learn and exercise problem solving techniques. The problems presented in these workshops are often not amenable to solution through ready-made formulas and require the individual to interact with peers in a reflective manner. The workshop is 85 minutes each week.

These workshops are based on the Peer-Led Team Learning model (PLTL) with students working individually and in small groups to learn and exercise problem solving techniques. The problems presented in these workshops are often not amenable to solution through ready-made formulas and require the individual to interact with peers in a reflective manner. The workshop is 85 minutes each week.

The study of chemistry in a variety of art forms. Some topics to be covered: Oxidation-Reduction (Etching and Coloring of Metals); Acid-Base Chemistry (pH pens and Frescoes); Pigment types, synthesis and interactions in a matrix (Cloth dyeing, chromatography, crayons, paints, and candles); Methods of analysis (Spectroscopy and chromatography). Literature searches, laboratory records, reports, and exams will be graded. Fee: $60

For science and engineering majors. Introduction to stoichiometry, atomic structure, bonding, and reactions. Principles of solution chemistry and chemical thermodynamics included.

Principles of chemical kinetics, thermodynamics, and equilibrium will be studied with emphasis on acid-base chemistry and electrochemistry. Other topics may include intermolecular forces, phase changes, colligative properties, organic chemistry, nuclear chemistry, polymers, and biochemistry.

This lab course teaches students how to use basic laboratory equipment as well as introduce them to laboratory techniques involved with fractional recrystallization, paper chromatography, identification and synthesis of ionic compounds, titrations, and calorimetry. Students practice accepted procedures for recording data in a laboratory notebook and write lab reports (including one formal report) for all experiments. Fee: $60

Experiments in this lab course include those that investigate intermolecular forces, colligative properties, chemical kinetics, equilibria, pH and buffers, synthesis and chemical analysis of a metal complex, and electrochemistry. Fee: $60

Computational techniques for solving physics and chemistry problems as well as for simulating, analyzing, and graphically visualizing physical systems and processes. Offered Fall of odd years.

Lecture presentation of the principles of wet and instrumental methods and the treatment of analytical data.

This course addresses nomenclature, stereochemistry, and the structure and reactivity of organic compounds; substitution, elimination, and addition reactions of organic substrates including alkanes, alkyl halides, alkenes and alkynes; and application of NMR and IR spectroscopy and mass spectrometry to the determination of molecule structure.

This course extends the topics and principles of CHM 325 to an analysis of alcohols, aromatic systems, amines, ketones, aldehydes, carboxylic acids and derivatives. Special topics include synthetic strategies, polymers, and biochemistry, particularly the chemistry of lipids, carbohydrates, amino acids, and peptides.

Postulates of quantum mechanics, particle in a box, harmonic oscillator, rigid rotator, and hydrogen atom with application to electronic structure of atoms and molecules and to atomic and molecular spectra.

Classical and statistical thermodynamics to include Boltzmann statistics, partition functions and ensembles with applications to phase equilibria, chemical equilibria, solute-solvent interactions and non-equilibrium thermodynamics. Chemical kinetics to include rate laws, mechanisms, kinetic molecular theory and gas-phase reaction dynamics.

This course is the first part of the two-semester Inorganic Chemistry sequence. Topics covered: fundamentals of atomic structure; molecular symmetry and its applications in IR spectroscopy and molecular orbital theory of small covalent molecules; solid state chemistry; oxidation-reduction processes; physical methods in inorganic chemistry; descriptive chemistry of the main group elements.

Atomic and molecular spectroscopy to illustrate the postulates of quantum mechanics, particle in a box, harmonic oscillator, rigid rotator and electronic structure of atoms and molecules. Fee: $60.

Experiments designed to investigate thermodynamics, chemical kinetics and gas phase reaction dynamics with applications to phase equilibria, chemical equilibria, solute-solvent interactions. Fee: $60.

This lab course covers synthetic and analytical techniques relevant to main group element chemistry and to solid state chemistry (including superconductors, semiconductors, nanoparticles).  Fee: $60.

This course teaches the principles and techniques used in the synthesis, purification, and characterization of organic compounds. Students apply a variety of separation techniques; consult the chemical literature; investigate the kinetics of a proposed mechanism; apply reactions learned in CHM 325 to synthesize organic compounds; operate IR and NMR spectrometers; and identify unknown compounds based on spectroscopic analysis. Fee: $60.

In this course, students continue synthetic application of reactions learned in CHEM 325 and 326; expand the techniques of CHM 375 to include gas chromatography/mass spectrometry; and apply GC/MS to a competitive nitration study. Students also research, propose, and execute an independent project, followed by oral presentation and formal documentation of the project’s outcomes. Fee: $60.

Experiments in quantitative analysis, including wet, spectroscopic, electrochemical, and chromatographic methods. Additional emphasis on statistics, computerized data analysis, and report writing. Fee: $60.

This course is organized into three main sections in which chemical topics relevant to the atmosphere, hydrosphere, and terrestrial environments are discussed. The course also addresses anthropogenic effects on the environment, toxicology, risk assessment, environmental analysis, computer modeling, and the political and sociological aspects of environmental topics.

Faculty directed student outreach in community educational institutions. Before enrolling, students must consult with a faculty member to define goals for the project. May be repeated for credit.

Credit arranged by student in cooperation with faculty.

Faculty directed student research. Before enrolling, students must consult with a faculty member to define the project. May be repeated for credit. Fee: $60 per credit hour.

Theory and practice of modern chemical instrumentation.

Coordination chemistry of transition metals; electronic structures of coordination complexes; crystal field theory and ligand field theory; optical and magnetic properties; descriptive chemistry of transition metals; organometallic chemistry; reaction mechanisms.

Physical-chemical basis of life processes. Topics include: structure and function of proteins, carbohydrates, and fats; metabolism of carbohydrates and fats; and metabolic control processes.

Continuation of CHM 453. Emphasis is on biosynthesis of macromolecules. Topics include photosynthesis, metabolism of amino acids, membrane synthesis, nucleic acid and protein biosynthesis, current topics in biochemistry.

The course focuses on organic synthesis and builds upon the material covered in CHM 325 and CHM 326. Important topics are retrosynthetic analysis, protecting groups, and carbon-carbon bond forming reactions, such as advanced enolate chemistry and palladium cross coupling reactions. Important organic chemistry models, such as the Ireland, Zimmerman-Traxler, Cram and Felkin-Ahn models are presented.

Techniques include modern methods for separation and quantitation of biological materials, including centrifugation, high pressure liquid chromatography, spectrophotometry, and gel electrophoresis. Fee: $60.

A survey of modern instrumentation including the use of spectroscopy, electrochemistry and chromatography for quantitative and qualitative analysis. Fee $60.

The lab is taught under the principles of discovery-based learning. The experiments involve syntheses of main group ligands using organometallic chemistry and inert atmosphere techniques (vacuum lines and a glovebox); syntheses of new transition metal complexes and their investigations by spectroscopic methods (UV-vis, multinuclear NMR, FT-IR), electrochemistry, magnetic measurements (magnetic balance), and structural analyses by X-ray diffraction methods (when possible). Fee: $60.

Techniques utilized will include the use of enzymes in PCR, restriction digests, and ligations, as well as overexpression, purification, and characterization of a target protein and related cofactors. Skills in proposal writing will also be developed. Fee: $60

Hands on instruction in the use of computer software and programming for the acquisition, manipulation, and interpretation of chemical data. Fee: $60.

Credit arranged by student in cooperation with faculty.

Special topic seminar. Lectures, panel discussions, student research paper, and oral presentation.

Faculty-directed student research. Before enrolling, students must consult with a faculty member to define the project. May be repeated for credit. Fee: $60 per credit hour.

Intensive field experience in selected chemical industries. Students may receive an IP (In Progress) grade until the completion of their internship. Department permission and chemistry G.P.A. of 3.0 required.

Research, study, or original work under the direction of a faculty mentor, leading to a scholarly thesis document with a public presentation of results. Requires approval of thesis director, department chair, dean, and the director of the honors program, when appropriate.